cabala (cabbala, cabbalah, kabala, kabbala, kabbalah)

Kabbalah is Hebrew for tradition. But the cabala has come
to refer to a collection of mystical and ethical Jewish writings, mostly
dating from the medieval period. It consists in good part of speculative and
symbolical interpretations of Hebrew Scriptures.

There are several cabalistic traditions, some of which are noted for
their
messianic leanings. One of the more well-known messiahs was
Sabbatai Zevi who,
in 1666, convinced a large part of the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian world
that he was the Messiah. His conversion to Islam is seen variously as a
cowardly pseudo-conversion aimed at saving his life or as a necessary step
in the redemption of the world.